Nowadays, people store almost all of their data online. We install several applications on our personal computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc.
We happen to ignore the fact that the software/applications that we install need to be up to date. We often tend to ignore the warning or the pop-up that we get on our mobile phones that says "Update your XYZ app, there is a new version available". We are given 2 options by the app developer: Update now or remind me later. And most of us, often choose to remind ourselves later and we keep clicking it and eventually end up never updating that app.
Why are these updates so important? Why are we even emphasizing on keeping our apps up to date?
Repair
Whenever an app is developed, all of its features are not appropriately developed in its first build. There may be some features or computer bugs that are not rectified in the first release which may not have a direct impact on the users, hence the app is released without fixing them with the hope of rectifying them in the next update or the release. A software/application update may fix these existing bugs or adds some new features that the old one lacks and removes the outdated ones.
Patch
Hackers hunt for vulnerabilities in software or an application. There are some security loopholes or some back doors that are still to be fixed. These backdoors or security holes are nothing but the vulnerabilities of software. Through these vulnerabilities, hackers may exploit the software and infect your computer with malware/badware or sometimes even steal your data.
Protect
A lot of personal information is kept online. When an app is installed we often tend to provide all the permissions to the app such as allowing the app to access your media, location, microphone, etc. When an app is not updated, these permissions are still provided to the app, and the hackers if found a way to get into your system may access all your information. Nowadays we prefer online transactions, and online sharing of our pictures, and other details. Our bank details account information, and media files are all available online, hackers may misuse them. They may sell the data on the dark web or might encrypt our valuable data and to decrypt it, you might have to pay a ransom. Just like a ransomware attack! In the worst case, you may end up paying the amount and not getting the information back.
First you, then others
If you are secured, so will your friends and families will be secured, if you have a virus or malware on your device, you may end up sharing or transferring it to your friends. Hence, it is essential to start with yourself and also educate others on the same.
We may forget to update the app or might get busy and click on the "Remind me later" option time and again, the best way to get out of this is to keep the apps on "Automatic Update". This will update your apps automatically so you don't have to worry about keeping an eye on every app and updating them manually.
